Zhang Laixi
01 · Lineage & Regional School
Zhang Laixi, Male, Han, from Yangzhou, Jiangsu, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Yangzhou Lacquerware Decoration Craftsmanship (Ⅷ-52). The tradition is documented in Yangzhou, Jiangsu. Within the regional tradition and school record of Yangzhou Lacquerware Decoration Craftsmanship in Yangzhou, Jiangsu: The Yangzhou lacquerware lacquering and decoration technique is centered on Yangzhou, Jiangsu, and extends to the Zhenjiang and Taizhou areas; during the Qianlong era, multiple streets and lanes named after lacquerware production appeared in Yangzhou, and the output and variety of lacquerware both reached their historical peak. Modern Yangzhou lacquerware production is carried forward in concentrated form by the Yangzhou Lacquerware Factory Co., Ltd., whose supporting crafts of wood carving, ivory carving, jade carving and lacquerware constitute the distinctive face of Yangzhou craft. By the Han dynasty, lacquerware was widely used in many fields, and its forms and decorative techniques became more exquisite and varied. No fewer than ten thousand Han dynasty lacquerware pieces have been unearthed in the suburbs of Yangzhou, most of them painted lacquerware, with a great variety of vessel types and rich patterns. By the Tang dynasty, Yangzhou's techniques of bodiless dry lacquer, gold-and-silver flat-inlay and mother-of-pearl inlay were already quite mature, and Yangzhou lacquerware was listed among twenty-four kinds of tribute articles. During the Ming and Qing periods, Yangzhou lacquer art reached its zenith: famous varieties appeared such as carved red cinnabar lacquer, flat-polished mother-of-pearl inlay, soft mother-of-pearl inlay and hundred-treasure inlay, forming a distinctive local style.
02 · Mastery & Signature Works
The bearer record for Zhang Laixi is anchored in the documented technical standards of Yangzhou Lacquerware Decoration Craftsmanship in Yangzhou, Jiangsu. Within the documented technical tradition of Yangzhou Lacquerware Decoration Craftsmanship in Yangzhou, Jiangsu: Yangzhou lacquerware is a traditional Chinese special craft product: it has a long history, a complete range of varieties, consummate technique and a unique style, and is renowned at home and abroad. As early as the Warring States period, more than two thousand three hundred years ago, the Yangzhou lacquerware lacquering and decoration technique began to appear; as can be seen from unearthed objects, lacquerware of the time had already reached a high level in form and lacquering technique. During the Qianlong era, multiple streets and lanes named after lacquerware production appeared in Yangzhou, and the output and variety of lacquerware both reached their historical peak. Modern Yangzhou lacquerware production comprises nine great categories: threaded-shell inlay, carved lacquer, carved lacquer with jade inlay, engraved lacquer, flat-polished mother-of-pearl inlay, painted decoration, bone-and-stone inlay, nanmu carved-lacquer sand inkstones, and polished lacquer painting; the range of varieties is complete, the technique exquisite, the colors splendid and the style fresh, full of Eastern charm. Of its products, the "Qihua" brand lacquerware produced by the Yangzhou Lacquerware Factory is the most famous; it has repeatedly won international and domestic gold awards, and a number of its representative pieces have been selected as state gifts or displayed in important venues such as the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Twenty-three centuries of lacquer": Excavated Warring States pieces show lacquer already shaped and decorated at a high level here more than two thousand years ago. "The lacquer streets of the Qianlong era": Streets named for their trade multiplied in the Qianlong reign, and carved, mother-of-pearl, shell-inlaid and inlaid-gold wares were produced in great variety. "Matching sets with carving": A lacquer set often requires carved wood, ivory and jade alongside it, so several crafts cooperate on a single suite.
Twenty-three centuries of lacquer
Excavated Warring States pieces show lacquer already shaped and decorated at a high level here more than two thousand years ago.
The lacquer streets of the Qianlong era
Streets named for their trade multiplied in the Qianlong reign, and carved, mother-of-pearl, shell-inlaid and inlaid-gold wares were produced in great variety.
Matching sets with carving
A lacquer set often requires carved wood, ivory and jade alongside it, so several crafts cooperate on a single suite.
03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status
In 2025, Zhang Laixi was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Yangzhou Lacquerware Decoration Craftsmanship, with Yangzhou, Jiangsu as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Yangzhou Lacquerware Decoration Craftsmanship in Yangzhou, Jiangsu: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2006 (batch 1), with Yangzhou, Jiangsu as its declared area, and Yangzhou Qiqi Factory Co., Ltd. as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.
04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier
Historical origin
By the Han dynasty, lacquerware was widely used in many fields, and its forms and decorative techniques became more exquisite and varied. No fewer than ten thousand Han dynasty lacquerware pieces have been unearthed in the suburbs of Yangzhou, most of them painted lacquerware, with a great variety of vessel types and rich patterns.
05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage
National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.
| Bearer | Declared area | Roster code | Relation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhang Yu | Yangzhou, Jiangsu | 01-0168 | Same declared area |
| Zhao Rubai | Yangzhou, Jiangsu | 01-0169 | Same declared area |
| Zhang Laixi | Yangzhou, Jiangsu | — | This page |
06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography
This static English edition is rendered at the edge for search engines, AI crawlers and readers without JavaScript. Compiled from official national representative bearer archival records and the associated project dossier, organized by topic and translated into English. 阅读中文版。